Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-X8H3-PR46-6W2J

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-16 12:30 – Updated: 2026-09-16 12:30

Details

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

arm64: Don't read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled

__cpuinfo_store_cpu() gates the GMID_EL1 read on the raw ID_AA64PFR1_EL1, so it reads the register even when the kernel has disabled MTE (CONFIG_ARM64_MTE=n or arm64.nomte). KVM sets HCR_EL2.TID5 in that case, and pKVM injects an UNDEF the host cannot handle:

Internal error: Oops - Undefined instruction: 0000000002000000 [#1] SMP pc : __cpuinfo_store_cpu+0xf4/0x264 Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task!

Only pKVM reaches it, and only after a CPU is offlined and brought back online: its CPU_ON relay sets the host HCR before the CPU enters EL1, while plain nVHE sets it at CPUHP_AP_KVM_ONLINE.

Gate the read on the CPU's own ID_AA64PFR1_EL1 with the command-line override applied, and on CONFIG_ARM64_MTE, which no register reflects. The boot CPU stores its registers before init_cpu_features() strips an unsafe override, so clamp against the hardware value here too.

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{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-89981"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-09-16T11:17:09Z",
    "severity": null
  },
  "details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\narm64: Don\u0027t read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled\n\n__cpuinfo_store_cpu() gates the GMID_EL1 read on the raw\nID_AA64PFR1_EL1, so it reads the register even when the kernel has\ndisabled MTE (CONFIG_ARM64_MTE=n or arm64.nomte). KVM sets HCR_EL2.TID5\nin that case, and pKVM injects an UNDEF the host cannot handle:\n\n  Internal error: Oops - Undefined instruction: 0000000002000000 [#1]  SMP\n  pc : __cpuinfo_store_cpu+0xf4/0x264\n  Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task!\n\nOnly pKVM reaches it, and only after a CPU is offlined and brought back\nonline: its CPU_ON relay sets the host HCR before the CPU enters EL1,\nwhile plain nVHE sets it at CPUHP_AP_KVM_ONLINE.\n\nGate the read on the CPU\u0027s own ID_AA64PFR1_EL1 with the command-line\noverride applied, and on CONFIG_ARM64_MTE, which no register reflects.\nThe boot CPU stores its registers before init_cpu_features() strips an\nunsafe override, so clamp against the hardware value here too.",
  "id": "GHSA-x8h3-pr46-6w2j",
  "modified": "2026-09-16T12:30:43Z",
  "published": "2026-09-16T12:30:43Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89981"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5445d64199626974269fcdf347769ad44b0bb53b"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2d22ff377cd43f2e9660426ff22e3cd4c534637"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

CVE-2026-89981 (GCVE-0-2026-89981)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-16 10:32 – Updated: 2026-09-16 10:32

Title

arm64: Don't read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64: Don't read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled __cpuinfo_store_cpu() gates the GMID_EL1 read on the raw ID_AA64PFR1_EL1, so it reads the register even when the kernel has disabled MTE (CONFIG_ARM64_MTE=n or arm64.nomte). KVM sets HCR_EL2.TID5 in that case, and pKVM injects an UNDEF the host cannot handle: Internal error: Oops - Undefined instruction: 0000000002000000 [#1] SMP pc : __cpuinfo_store_cpu+0xf4/0x264 Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task! Only pKVM reaches it, and only after a CPU is offlined and brought back online: its CPU_ON relay sets the host HCR before the CPU enters EL1, while plain nVHE sets it at CPUHP_AP_KVM_ONLINE. Gate the read on the CPU's own ID_AA64PFR1_EL1 with the command-line override applied, and on CONFIG_ARM64_MTE, which no register reflects. The boot CPU stores its registers before init_cpu_features() strips an unsafe override, so clamp against the hardware value here too.

Severity

No CVSS data available.

Assigner

Linux mitre root

References

2 references

URL	Tags
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2d22ff377cd43f2e…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5445d641996269742…

Impacted products

2 products

Vendor	Product	Version
Linux	Linux	Affected: f35abcbb8a084db4c24b66ccc8db0405c08e2f61 , < d2d22ff377cd43f2e9660426ff22e3cd4c534637 (git) Affected: f35abcbb8a084db4c24b66ccc8db0405c08e2f61 , < 5445d64199626974269fcdf347769ad44b0bb53b (git)
Linux	Linux	Affected: 7.0 Unaffected: 0 , < 7.0 (semver) Unaffected: 7.2.5 , ≤ 7.2.* (semver) Unaffected: 7.3-rc2 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)

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{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "arch/arm64/include/asm/cpu.h",
            "arch/arm64/include/asm/cpufeature.h",
            "arch/arm64/kernel/cpufeature.c",
            "arch/arm64/kernel/cpuinfo.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "d2d22ff377cd43f2e9660426ff22e3cd4c534637",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "f35abcbb8a084db4c24b66ccc8db0405c08e2f61",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "5445d64199626974269fcdf347769ad44b0bb53b",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "f35abcbb8a084db4c24b66ccc8db0405c08e2f61",
              "versionType": "git"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "arch/arm64/include/asm/cpu.h",
            "arch/arm64/include/asm/cpufeature.h",
            "arch/arm64/kernel/cpufeature.c",
            "arch/arm64/kernel/cpuinfo.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.0"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "7.0",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "7.2.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "7.2.5",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "7.3-rc2",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "cpeApplicability": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "7.2.5",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "7.0",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "7.3-rc2",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "7.0",
                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\narm64: Don\u0027t read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled\n\n__cpuinfo_store_cpu() gates the GMID_EL1 read on the raw\nID_AA64PFR1_EL1, so it reads the register even when the kernel has\ndisabled MTE (CONFIG_ARM64_MTE=n or arm64.nomte). KVM sets HCR_EL2.TID5\nin that case, and pKVM injects an UNDEF the host cannot handle:\n\n  Internal error: Oops - Undefined instruction: 0000000002000000 [#1]  SMP\n  pc : __cpuinfo_store_cpu+0xf4/0x264\n  Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task!\n\nOnly pKVM reaches it, and only after a CPU is offlined and brought back\nonline: its CPU_ON relay sets the host HCR before the CPU enters EL1,\nwhile plain nVHE sets it at CPUHP_AP_KVM_ONLINE.\n\nGate the read on the CPU\u0027s own ID_AA64PFR1_EL1 with the command-line\noverride applied, and on CONFIG_ARM64_MTE, which no register reflects.\nThe boot CPU stores its registers before init_cpu_features() strips an\nunsafe override, so clamp against the hardware value here too."
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-09-16T10:32:58.056Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2d22ff377cd43f2e9660426ff22e3cd4c534637"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5445d64199626974269fcdf347769ad44b0bb53b"
        }
      ],
      "title": "arm64: Don\u0027t read GMID_EL1 when MTE is disabled",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-89981",
    "datePublished": "2026-09-16T10:32:58.056Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-09-11T19:38:34.779Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-09-16T10:32:58.056Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
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